The 15-staff outfit will install the new Suprasetter A75, which represented around £70,000 of the £110,000 investment, in January. It replaces an older model Suprasetter, also from Heidelberg.

Color Co director Alan Wainwright, who was directly involved with the purchase, said he considered an Agfa platesetter but stuck with Heidelberg as it has always proved reliable. 

“I think it’s producing around 20 plates an hour, which is quite good,” said Wainwright.

“We wanted to make sure our plate system was keeping up with supply to our Heidelberg presses, bearing in mind we work double-day shifts, that was one of the main reasons we looked at it because it was reliable and productive.

“It will maintain production, which is what we’re looking for. The old one was five to six years old and we felt it was time to renew it.”

The new Prinect Prepress Manager Software is an upgrade to Color Co’s pre-existing SignaStation imposition software and MetaDimension RIP. Heidelberg said that with comprehensive Prepress Manager, Color Co will have more automation and more added options.

Color Co will move into the newly-leased approximate 370sqm-factory opposite its current premises in the new year, expanding its total premises size to around 930sqm.

It will mainly use it to expand its bindery offering, and will be looking to invest in a perfect binder for the new factory shortly, having last year invested £300,000 in a Heidelberg Stahlfolder BH 56 and a Muller Martini stitching line.

Founded 10 years ago as an all-digital printer, Color Co expanded into litho in 2008, and runs two Heidelberg Speedmasters: an SM 74 and an SM 52 . On the digital side, it runs four-colour machines from Xerox and Ricoh.

It prints 23 trade magazine titles, each ranging in run from 5,000 to 50,000, and also produces brochures, flyers and business stationery.